Dyslexia and Dysgraphia – They Should Never Be Dysrespected!
Posted: May 07, 2024 | Author: William Romay, Yorkshire Academy 5th Grade Student
I often wonder how dyslexia and dysgraphia were created. It is as though everything we need in life will be affected since the two conditions often come together. What is dyslexia? It is a learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. What does that mean? It means that a person who has dyslexia has trouble reading because their brain is wired differently.
What is it like for a fifth-grade student? It means that even though you are a very smart student, you must work a lot harder to read and spell correctly. I don’t really consider my dyslexia to be a disability because I can do everything that all my friends can do, I just need to work harder. It is important to find out that you have dyslexia as early as possible so you can start getting help. My journey to fifth grade has not been easy. I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia when I was in first grade at Yorkshire Academy. I was lucky to have Miss Sharon Curran, who is a wonderful tutor, and I saw her five times each week until I was reading at grade level. But I would not be doing as well without my wonderful parents who have helped me with reading and writing and staying positive.
Dyslexia often comes with other conditions. One of them is dysgraphia. Dysgraphia is a neurological condition and learning difference in which someone has difficulty with writing as well as putting thoughts into written words. Dysgraphia is worse. In my opinion, dysgraphia is the most difficult condition to have since people think you just need to practice your writing to get better. It is not something I will grow out of. There is not a lot of technology available to support people with dysgraphia, and there are not many trained tutors. I have a special mechanical pen with ink and the ink helps me write the words easier than using a pencil. I type a lot of my work, but I still like to write with a pen.
I will be graduating from Yorkshire Academy, and I’ll continue my journey in middle school. I know I will always have to work extra hard, but I also know I can do everything my classmates can do.
Some famous people with dyslexia and dysgraphia include Albert Einstein, George Washington, Cher, Louis Pasteur, Agatha Christie and many more successful people. People with dyslexia and dysgraphia are pretty special!
This article was also featured in Buzz Magazine.